College Admissions Insider

Most of the material you'll find about applying to college covers all the steps leading up to applying — and then it stops. But what happens if you end up at a school that's not the right fit? Or what if you attend a two-year school and want to transfer to a four-year university? That's where transferring comes in. How is the process of applying to transfer different from the first-...

As you explore colleges, you’ll see these two words everywhere: “liberal arts.” But what does that phrase mean? What kinds of students might benefit most from a liberal arts education? And how might the day-to-day experience at a liberal arts school differ from life at a different kind of school? In this episode of College Admissions Insider , brought to you by Bucknell University, Brooke Thames a...

After 8th grade, the warmup rounds are over, and suddenly everything starts to count. By 9th and 10th grade, every class, activity, and test has the potential to help students get into the college of their dreams. It’s no wonder that’s the same time parents, teachers and counselors start expecting students to think about their college plans. In this episode of College Admissions Insider , brought...

Behind many successful college students is a passionate parent who helped coach and guide them throughout the application process. They're there every step of the way as a coach, cheerleader, personal chauffeur and so much more. But now that it's time for their student to apply to college, these parents might not know what role to play. They don't want to overstep and become that ag...

Standardized tests are one way that colleges can learn more about an applicant — but they're no longer the make-or-break moments they once were. That's why some schools, including Bucknell, decided to make SAT and ACT scores optional when applying. It's called a "test-optional" admissions policy, and it shifts the power away from the companies that make these standardized...

At schools like Bucknell that receive thousands of applications every year, there’s a good chance some applicants will have similar grades, academic rigor, and extracurricular involvement. But there's a place where applicants can stand out — something guaranteed to be found in their application and no other. We're talking about the college essay — an applicant's best opportunity to...

Students pore over every detail of the application, craft the perfect essay, and manage to score some top-notch recommendations. But then: silence. No feedback until that envelope or email arrives with the decision. Even that feedback is limited to just three varieties: Yes, you're in. No, you didn't get in. Or hang on, you've been put on the waitlist. The student doesn't know...

We know that not everybody has a major identified when apply season arrives. In fact, the most popular major for students applying to Bucknell is "undecided." Bucknell and other highly selective schools know that "undecided" doesn't mean "indecisive." It can actually show your willingness to explore and take advantage of the wide range of opportunities that await...

It's officially apply season — aka deadline season. But with all these important dates approaching fast, how can students keep everything straight and budget their time effectively? In this episode of College Admissions Insider , brought to you by Bucknell University, Brooke Thames and Bryan Wendell welcome Candace Leake, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Bucknell, to discuss how to...

In this episode of College Admissions Insider , brought to you by Bucknell University, Brooke Thames and Bryan Wendell welcome Becca Haupt, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Bucknell, to discuss how a student can choose a college without ever visiting campus. Because of COVID-19, many schools have canceled or significantly reduced their visit opportunities. That’s tough on high school stu...